THE STRAWBERRY. 139 



Fall plantinof is not to be recommended, except in the South. 

 North of 38 decrees, spring planting- will be found preferable. Some 

 advir-e lull planting, in order to get a partial cmp of fruit the next 

 season. Tliis is a poor polic , iiowever; as the crop is a delusion, 

 and will not compensate fo: the injury done to the plant by the 

 winter. The plant needs one season to establish itself, and then 

 rest before beginning its work of fruit-beariusr. The ground should, 

 however, be thoroughly prepared in the fall, so that the spring 

 work may be done early, and before the plants are too much grown. 



The first question to decide after the preparation of the ground in 

 the spring is, which mode to adopt. There are three modes of straw- 

 berry culture practiced with more or less success. The first is the 

 bed system, or that in which the plants are expected and allowed to 

 cover the whole ground. This a slovenly and careless wav, but is 

 often practiced in gardens and small lots. The one bQd is allowed to 

 continue till the plants become so thick that they will no longer yield 

 fruit worth picking, when it is given up and a new one planted. 

 Another is the row system, in which the runners are confined to the 

 row, of say a foot wide, while the intenuediate spaces are kept clean 

 by cultivation. This is the system most followed in field culture, 

 and if pro[)erly done, will bring greater yields than any other. The 

 third is the hill system. In this, the runners are kept carefully cut, and 

 not permitted to set new plants, and the whole work of fruiting is 

 confined to the original plants. For some varieties this mode is well 

 suited; and if size of fruit rather than quantity is the object, is very 

 successful. 



For field culture the row system is preferable, as it certainly is 

 most desirable for all ordinary planters. For but few cultivators can 

 be found who, after adopting the hill system, will persevere in keep- 

 ing the runners cut through the season, so as to produce the best 

 results. The distance between rows should be three or three and a 

 half feet, and the plants may be set twelve to eighteen inches apart 

 in the row. Such sorts as throw out many runners and multiply 

 fast, may be set the gr.'ater distance; others less vioforous may be 

 set closer. These distances will permit of clean culture by means 

 of plow and cultivator, which should be freely used during the season 

 after planting. Weeds and grass sliould.be kept out of the row also, 

 by pulling or with the hoe. 



If plants are thus sit in the spring, and well managed, by fall the 



